Ann Arbor teacher experiences first day of school from different perspective
Ryan Bruder had a couple butterflies in his stomach this morning when he walked into Ann Arbor's Allen Elementary School.
But they didn’t last long for the first-year teacher.
“I’m excited,” said Bruder, who graduated from the University of Michigan in the spring. “I’ve always loved the first day of school.”
Bruder, son of Bach Elementary School Principal Shelly Bruder, got to experience that first day of school from a different perspective today.
Around 8:30 this morning, Bruder was puttering around his classroom waiting for students to arrive.
Piles of notebooks were neatly stacked at each student’s place. Name tags were lined up on a table next to a scavenger hunt sheet that students would soon be using to get to know their classroom.
The entire room was decorated with fish - paper ones hanging from the ceiling and live ones swimming in a tank in the corner.
Even the various mottos scattered around the classroom - “Mr. Bruder’s class is oceans of fun" - were beach themed.
“I’ve been living here” for the last couple of weeks, Bruder said. He said his mom came over from Bach to help him put the finishing touches on it.
As the bell rang to signal the start of school, Bruder moved toward the door. He shook hands with each of the 22 students and lots of parents.
As the students worked on their scavenger hunt - discovering things like where the pencil sharpener is - Bruder wandered about, asking and answering questions.
He joked with students, telling one who asked for the answer to a question on the scavenger hunt, “Sure. Let’s start the year off right. I’ll give you all the answers all year long.” That drew a laugh from the student.
Bruder said he was excited to spend the day with the students.
“I can’t wait to get to know them and to help them learn.”
David Jesse covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at davidjesse@annarbor.com or at 734-623-2534.
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